Visiting Friends!

By morning, the snow had stopped and the sky had cleared.

Jiang Ning wore a dark blue robe beneath a silver fox-fur cloak. He looked less stern than usual, with an air of ease and quiet nobility.

Su Qingying had changed as well. Instead of her usual plain white, she wore a winter dress of soft red embroidered with silver plum blossoms and a matching cloak. Against them, her skin looked fairer than snow, and a touch of everyday warmth softened her cool features.

"Shall we go to Martial King Manor first, or the Xiao Residence? Or somewhere else?" Su Qingying asked softly.

"Let's see Xiang Yuan first. He's impatient, and he's the master of the Xiao Residence's senior fellow disciple," Jiang Ning said with a smile.

They took no carriage and brought no attendants. Side by side, they walked out of the National Preceptor's Residence.

The snow had been cleared from the main streets of the Royal Capital. Children in new clothes chased one another at the mouths of the alleys. Firecracker scraps mingled with slushy snow, while a faint scent of sulfur and the aroma of meals drifted from nearby homes.

Martial King Manor was not far from the National Preceptor's Residence, barely fifteen minutes away on foot.

Lanterns and decorations adorned its entrance. Even the two stone lions had been draped in red silk, giving them an oddly endearing look.

The gatekeeper clearly recognized Jiang Ning. Spotting him from afar, he hurried forward and bowed respectfully. "My lord! Your Excellency! His Highness gave orders long ago. If you two came, I was to show you straight in!"

Since the founding of Great Xia, people had observed the custom of visiting friends and family during the New Year holiday. The gatekeeper was not surprised to see them.

Before